Friday, April 1, 2011

Top List: Download Managers

Whenever I get a new computer, or a virtual machine here at Softonic HQ, one of the first programs I install is a download manager. If you download frequently, it makes the job so much more efficient, easily allowing you to sort, categorize and automate your downloads. What's more, lots also make downloading much, much quicker. What are you waiting for?! Check out the top options here.
My favorite app is Download Accelerator Plus (DAP). Even the free version of this manager has more options than you can imagine, integrates perfectly with most browsers and really speeds things up. I couldn't live without it, and if you are looking for a great all-rounder, don't hesitate to download it. Also available for Mac.
FlashGet is another perennial favorite. If there is some reason DAP isn't your cup of tea, give FlashGet a try. It has almost all of the same features and also integrates into your browser. In addition, it has special support for BitTorrent and eMule, for all you torrent fans out there. Just bear in mind, however, that to use FlashGet with Firefox, you'll need a separate plug-in.
Internet Download Manager is another great all-rounder. In fact, it's very similar to the others mentioned here, but marks itself apart thanks to its browser integration. Many similar apps support the big browsers (Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, etc.), but Internet Download Manager goes further, integrating into many lesser-used browsers and variations, such as Opera and Avant Browser. It also has special tools for grabbing internet video.
Again, when it comes to the top download managers, the leaders are very, very similar. The same can be said for Free Download Manager, which boasts almost all of the same attractions as the other apps in this list. The one thing that does set it apart, however, is the fact that it is open-source, something that not all the others can claim.
JDownloader comes last in the list, but not we're not making any value judgments. What makes this free GPL app pretty interesting is that it is especially designed for downloading from file sharing sites like Rapidshare.com and Megaupload.com. To this end, it has a number of interesting and unique features, such as support for CCF, RSDF and DLC files, CAPTCHA recognition and automatic file extraction. Also available for Mac.
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